Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PAX East 2014: State of Decay eyes multiplayer, stays offline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/12/pax-east-2014-state-of-decay-eyes-multiplayer-stays-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/12/pax-east-2014-state-of-decay-eyes-multiplayer-stays-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/12/pax-east-2014-state-of-decay-eyes-multiplayer-stays-offline/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I know we're fleeing from zombies, but would you guys like to hit Burger King on the way? Maybe... no? All right.
The ground is fairly littered with zombie games of some sort these days. That isn't meant as a mark against Undead Labs' State of Decay, but it does raise questions of focus. How do you make a zombie game more unique? According to the studio's Jeff Strain at this year's PAX East, you focus upon building at the community level rather than individual survival. While games like DayZ focus on the personal, State of Decay is much more focused on the idea of putting society as a whole back together and trying to accumulate resources and structures for survivors as a whole.

Of course, most of our readers are more interested in what comes next, specifically Class4. That's the proposed sequel to State of Decay, previously codenamed Class3; it's meant to be a full MMO according to previous statements, a game in which you can worry about rebuilding not just a local community but the world as a whole. And Undead Labs certainly isn't hurting for talent that's familiar with online games, especially with the acquisition of ArenaNet co-founder Patrick Wyatt in January. So what's happening?

Continue reading PAX East 2014: State of Decay eyes multiplayer, stays offline

MassivelyPAX East 2014: State of Decay eyes multiplayer, stays offline originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3class4conconventiondevelopmenteventevent-coverageeventsexpofeaturedhalf-featureinterviewinterviewsjeff-strainmassively-event-coveragepaxpax-2014pax-eastpax-east-2014penny-arcade-expopreviewsstate-of-decaysupposed-mmosundead-labsupcoming-mmosupcoming-titlesSat, 12 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet co-founder heads to Undead Labs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/arenanet-co-founder-heads-to-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/arenanet-co-founder-heads-to-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/arenanet-co-founder-heads-to-undead-labs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

State of Decay
Undead Labs announced today that it has hired Patrick Wyatt, co-founder of ArenaNet and co-creator of the original Guild Wars. Wyatt, who left ArenaNet in 2008, joins fellow Guild Wars co-creator Jeff Strain at the State of Decay studio, which has not been shy about its intention to build a zombie-themed MMO. State of Decay, codenamed Class3, launched in 2013 and was confirmed by the studio as a test run for an eventual MMO release, codenamed Class4.

Here's Strain on the announcement:
Today, I'm very happy to announce that Patrick has joined Undead Labs, and will be working shoulder-to-shoulder with Team Zed as we dive into the development of...well, what's next, and beyond.
Undead Labs recently struck a multi-game agreement with Microsoft, paving the way for the studio to continue work on the Class4 project.

MassivelyArenaNet co-founder heads to Undead Labs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetclass3class4fantasyguild-warsgwjeff-strainMicrosoftncsoftpatrick-wyattstate-of-decayundead-labsundead-labs-mmozombie-apocalypsezombie-mmozombiesThu, 30 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs says 'big things are going on with State of Decay']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/undead-labs-says-big-things-are-going-on-with-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/undead-labs-says-big-things-are-going-on-with-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/undead-labs-says-big-things-are-going-on-with-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

State of Decap decapitation
Is Undead Labs working on its long-rumored State of Decay MMO? Maybe so and maybe no, but the company is working on something big according to founder Jeff Strain's latest blog post.

"We'll be able to share details later this year," he writes, "but as with State of Decay, we think it's best if we just keep our heads down and build some prototypes before we talk too much. For now, suffice it to say there are big things going on with State of Decay.

Strain also intimates that whatever it is will take quite a while. "It's been a long haul from the original vision to this point, and the road ahead of us will take years to travel. We hope you're up for the trip, because we can't do it without you," he says.

MassivelyUndead Labs says 'big things are going on with State of Decay' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class-4class3class4microsoftsandboxstate-of-decaysurvivalundeadundead-labsyayzombiezombie-mmozombiesFri, 10 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/state-of-decay-comes-to-the-pc-courtesy-of-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/state-of-decay-comes-to-the-pc-courtesy-of-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/state-of-decay-comes-to-the-pc-courtesy-of-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

State of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam
PC gamers feeling left out while watching their Xbox comrades playing State of Decay can wipe those tears away; the zombie survival title has arrived on Steam.

State of Decay is available through the digital distribution platform for a straight-up $19.99. If you're curious about Undead Labs' maiden game, then check out our hands-on coverage. The game was a huge hit on the Xbox and hopefully will be followed by an MMO set in the same world. Undead is also preparing the first DLC for State of Decay called Breakdown that will come to both the PC and Xbox.

[Thanks to Soren for the tip!]

MassivelyState of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Undead Labs
Undead Labs' latest game for Xbox Live, State of Decay, is a resounding success. The game moved over 250,000 copies in its first 48 hours of release, landing it the title of "Fastest Selling Xbox Live Game that isn't Minecraft." However, one successful game does not guarantee another, and Undead is still at the mercy of Microsoft when it comes to getting its next game off the ground.

The studio is set to begin work on Class4, an MMO follow-up to State of Decay, but cannot proceed until Microsoft gives it the go-ahead. According to Undead's Sanya Weathers, none of this can happen until the two parties reach a "mutually agreeable contract." She also noted that the two companies must agree on the goals of the project and on where the technology will be by the time Class4 finishes its multi-year development cycle.

According to Weathers, the discussion between Microsoft and Undead is "in progress."

MassivelyUndead Labs still negotiating with Microsoft on Class4 MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh god oh god oh god oh god
There's a lot to consider when you're stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Do you have enough food? Will your shelter hold up against the endless legions of undead? Do you have enough of that ammo that makes zombie heads explode? Thankfully, Undead Labs is here to help make State of Decay players' transitions to the post-apocalypse as simple as possible.

The studio has released a day-by-day survival guide written from the viewpoint of characters within the game's universe. The guide provides a flavorful look at some of the features players will be utilizing to survive in State of Decay. Players will learn how to construct a defensible stronghold, how to scavenge for supplies, and of course, how to defend themselves against zed onslaughts. It's quite a read, but a very worthwhile one for anyone who would prefer to remain on the side of the living in the war against the undead.

MassivelyLearn to live in a State of Decay with Undead Labs' new survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth
Pop quiz, apocalypse survivors: You desperately need to get into a nearby gun store to complete a mission, but it's surrounded by a small horde of zombies. Running through them and shooting your way in are both undesirable options, so what do you do? What do you do?

In a short alpha video from Undead Labs, a State of Decay player instead uses tricks and stealth to achieve his goal. He tosses some fireworks from a nearby water tower, prompting the zombies to investigate and leave the scene. Following that, it's a quick dash in and out to trigger a job well done.

You can watch this nail-biting footage after the jump, and don't forget to check out Massively's report on the game from PAX.

Continue reading State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth

MassivelyState of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaclass-3class3class4consolepaxpax-2012sandboxstate-of-decaystealthundead-labsvideoxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warm one and you will find happiness.
Today's official blog post about State of Decay is not about careful examination of different cultures. It's not about understanding what creates a zombie and how the sickness can be stopped. It's not even about the careful process of finding and maintaining your food supplies in the wake of societal breakdown. No, this is a blog post about guns. It is all about the weapons you will use to blow the undead into little bite-sized chunks of zombie.

The centerpiece is a huge list of guns that players can expect to find and shoot in the game, each with varying properties and ammunition types. It's also meant to expand in the future. So there's no subtlety here, just deadly firearms and the promise of using them to mow down shambling zombies to ensure your own survival. What more could you really want? Aside from functional vehicles and a planet not crawling with monsters that want to eat your brains, of course.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- State of Decay
Everyone loves zombies, right? Apparently so because they're absolutely everywhere (like Miami, for instance), but we keep on lapping it up. Secretly, though, I think a lot of us are tired of the same old zombie games. After all, if you're one of the truly hardcore that has a zombie apocalypse plan that includes where you'll hole up, how you'll find weapons, what you'll eat, and so forth, it's a little disappointing that most games tend to focus solely on the zombie-shooting part of the zombie apocalypse (not that there's anything wrong with zombie-shooting).

Undead Labs' upcoming MMO State of Decay might change all that.

The game will take place in a persistent world where players are responsible for rounding up survivors, finding the necessary resources to build defenses and stay alive, and of course, fighting off the zombie hordes. Finally, those of you who have long debated the merits of going to the gun store vs. not going to the gun store in the event of an apocalypse can see whose plan works better. And what's more, at PAX Prime 2012, I got to sit down and play around with it myself, though not for nearly as long as I would have liked. Regardless, if State of Decay is on your radar -- and it should be -- then I'd be glad to tell you all about my 20-odd minutes with the title.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoclass-3class3class4conconsoleconventionexpofeaturedhands-onjeff-strainopinionpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewssandboxstate-of-decayundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesFri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Unlead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer
Undead Labs has been working in relative secrecy for going on two years now. All we knew about the firm's cryptically (and temporarily) titled Class3 was that it had something to do with zombies and that it was coming to the Xbox 360.

Now, thanks to a new trailer, we know that the game is officially called State of Decay and it's also coming to the PC. Whether it's an MMO or simply a precursor to the rumored Class4 MMO is still undetermined. All that said, the trailer shows off plenty of open-world third-person shooting action, zombie-centric gore, and even a muscle car and the requisite rusty old pickup truck.

Undead says that State of Decay is set in an "open sandbox world [that] develops in real-time" and that gameplay involves "designing and fortifying your home base." Click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer

MassivelyUndead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Undead Labs
In their gory, gruesome office, Undead Labs' devs are hard at work figuring out the best way to disembowel you and turn you into a walking nightmare. So far it's going well, according to a new Q&A by CM Sanya Weathers. Weathers sheds some light on the difficulties of creating a zombie-infested world, particularly in relation to spawn points, mob density, and artificial intelligence.

"It takes surprisingly smart AI to make zombie behaviors that are believably dumb," she writes. According to her, Undead Labs' Class3 will boast "thousands" of zombies, all of which will be able to react to sounds, light, and explosions.

Weathers says that the game is in the final stages of pre-alpha production and we should be seeing gameplay footage from it soon. Other topics covered in the Q&A include player weapons, how to attract zombies, types of zombies, and a fast food joint called the Swine & Bovine.

MassivelyUndead Labs on making a believable zombie apocalypse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class3 - zombie mmo concept art
With the rash of MMO-related job losses in recent weeks, it's nice to see the occasional blurb about a dev finding a new home. Former Dominus and Dark Age of Camelot community guru Sanya Weathers has landed at Undead Labs, where she'll be heading up -- you guessed it -- the community relations department.

This is good news for fans of the firm's tentatively titled Class3 zombie MMO as well. As Undead Labs' Jeff Strain writes, "you don't hire a kick-ass community director if you have nothing to say."

MassivelyUndead Labs hires community director, Class3 info forthcoming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3communityconsole-mmoconsolesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhorrorjeff-strainsanya-weathersundeadundead-labsundead-labs-mmozombie-mmozombiesWed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs answers questions about Class3's open world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Zombie piloting has a negative effect on airline safety.
Undead Labs has been putting out a steady stream of information for potential players of Class3, the company's upcoming single-player prelude to the massively multiplayer Class4. The last major update in January showed some previews of the game under development, something that prompted a great deal of discussion about how the game will play. As a result, this month's session of questions and answers focuses on player speculation and the game's open-world environment.

According to this set of answers, players will be able to explore the game through a variety of means, including taking shelter inside the houses across the landscape, jumping over fences, and making careful use of vehicles found through the world. There's also discussion about making use of the environment as a weapon via ragdoll physics plus a tantalizing hint that more information will be forthcoming about the game in the spring. Fans of the upcoming zombie apocalypse will want to take a look at the full set of answers, which will hopefully serve as a precursor to an epic MMO in the same vein.

MassivelyUndead Labs answers questions about Class3's open world originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3class4game-mechanicsmechanicsopen-worldpreviewsq-and-aquestions-and-answersundead-labsupcoming-titleszombiezombie-survivalzombiesSun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Zombie Apocalypse Survival 101: Don't set off car alarms
If you're as big of a zombie fan as we are, we're sure you're anxiously awaiting Undead Labs' Class3 project as well as its massively multiplayer counterpart, Class4. The studio's founder, Jeff Strain, stopped by the official Undead Labs site today to post the first dev blog entry of 2012, and in celebration of the new year, he's offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Class3 in action.

Strain notes that the team is "not quite ready to post official trailers" of Class3 at this juncture, but that didn't stop him from prowling the offices with his iPhone in order to catch some footage of the in-development title. The spy-cam footage gives players a look at various facets of the game's development, including. but not necessarily limited to, zombies (duh), a guy running alongside a giant rolling buzzsaw blade, concept art, the studio's wall-o'-fan-love, and two players defending their encampment from a zombie siege. Strain closes on a high note, stating that "Class3 is on-schedule and looking great. We're excited to show it to you and the rest of the world officially." For the full, zed-tastic video, just click on past the cut.

Continue reading Undead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3

MassivelyUndead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Ten
In coming up with a follow-up list to my previous Upcoming MMO Contenders list, I found myself almost paralyzed by more choices than I could shake a wireless mouse at. Pointing at the sure bets is one thing, but narrowing down a field of dozens and dozens of interesting -- yet more far-flung -- prospects is far more difficult. It's one thing to have a good idea; it's another to say whether or not this game will actually make it to launch, and if it does, that it'll pull the idea off well.

That said, I've lost some hair and two pounds sweating out this list, and I feel sleeker for it. Today's Perfect Ten is all about the long-shots, the titles that may not have the huge budget, big name studios, or anything solid to show for it, but could still become contenders in their own right if everything is played just right.

Deep breath -- let's give it a go!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbethesdaBethesda-Softworksccpccp-gamesclass3class4crypticcryptic-studiosd-n-dddodefiancednddominusdungeons-and-dragonseve-onlinefallout-onlinefeaturedgoblinworksguild-warsinterplayjeff-strainmechwarrior-onlineneverwinterotherlandpathfinder-onlinepenny-arcadepermadeathprimeprime-battle-for-dominusriftsyfytad-williamstransformers-universetrion-worldsundead-labswizardrywizardry-onlineworld-of-darknessThu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Class3 - girl hiding from zombies
Don't look now, but there's another MMO jumping on the story bandwagon. This time it's Undead Labs' Class3 console game, and there's a new dev blog up on the title's official site that outlines writer Travis Stout's modus operandi.

Stout is a huge fan of the zombie genre, and that's a good thing given Class3's focus on the walking dead and the creeptastic atmosphere surrounding them. So what does Stout see as a writer's main mission when it comes to the upcoming MMO?

"Take the zombies out of the equation and be damn sure you've got a rock-solid story full of interesting, well-developed characters and exciting action," he explains. "Then put the zombies back in so those characters can smash their heads in with tire irons."

MassivelyUndead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3console-mmoconsolesdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyhorrormmo-storymmo-story-zombiestravis-stoutundead-labszombiesMon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs Q&A touches on health bars, death mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class 3 - ugly zombie dudes
Undead Labs has posted another question-and-answer session with fans of its upcoming Class 3 zombie MMO. The firm fielded a bunch of queries relating to healing, death, health bars, and assorted other topics.

"You'll have a health bar so you won't have to guess how much health you have, but zombies won't. While we could have opted to have no health bar for you too, we wanted to emphasize the survival aspect of the game by having the damage you take stick with you until you can heal up," the dev team says.

The Q&A also features some interesting tidbits about weight, fatigue and stamina, and the fact that zombies will respond to the noise generated by building survival structures (translation: Bring your duct tape). Read all about it at the official Undead Labs blog.

MassivelyUndead Labs Q&A touches on health bars, death mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3console-mmoconsolesdeathgame-mechanicshealth-barshorrorundead-labszombiesSat, 22 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs moving right along with Class3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class3 - street corner with zombies or something, who knows
The end of September marked a graduation of sorts for members of the Undead Labs development team. The company's untitled maiden voyage has officially crossed the threshold from pre-production to in production, and a blog post on the firm's web site celebrates the milestone with something of a rah-rah speech from founder Jeff Strain.

"I'm blown away by how far we've come in such a short amount of time. Our task now as we move headlong into the production phase is to take this fun little gem and turn it into something we're proud to show the world," Strain wrote.

The gem he's referring to is currently known only by its Class3 codename. We do know that it's about zombies and that it's only for consoles. Aside from that, the title is shrouded in a fair bit of mystery. Strain's post also features a time-lapse video that shows off the game's CryEngine 3-powered time-of-day effects, and you can check that out after the cut.

Continue reading Undead Labs moving right along with Class3

MassivelyUndead Labs moving right along with Class3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3consoleconsole-mmoconsolescryengine-3cryengine3horrorjeff-strainpre-productionproductionrah-rahundead-labsvideozombieMon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Following last week's dev diary featuring Undead Labs' art director Doug Williams and his talk on the "heart of horror," the most recent dev diary from the studio shifts in a more technical direction. In particular, executive producer Jeff Strain focuses on the game's engine. Even more particularly, he announces that the tentatively named Class3 will be running on the powerful CryENGINE 3.

Of course, the devs over at Undead Labs are quite familiar with the traditions of the internet and anticipate shouts of "pics or it didn't happen" with a lovely screenshot from an early version of the game. But wait, there's more! Call now and you'll receive not just a single screenshot, but an entire video! Just click past the break and check out an early version of Undead Labs' Class3 in action, then skip on over to the dev blog to read the full entry.

Continue reading Undead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3

MassivelyUndead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3consolecryenginecryengine-3cryengine3engineenginesjeff-strainundead-labsvideovideosxbox-360xbox-live-arcadezombiezombiesFri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Undead Labs - Class3 zombie concept art
So what is art direction and why is it important to video games in general and MMORPGs in particular? That's a good question, and sadly one that can't be answered in a brief news post. What we can do, though, is point you to some worthwhile reading on the subject. Today's lesson comes courtesy of Undead Labs and Doug Williams.

Williams serves as the art director on the firm's upcoming zombie apocalype Xbox Live Arcade MMO (currently codenamed Class3), and while you might expect him to spend time talking about gory effects or the best way to render blood and brains in a dark environment, Williams actually spends a good portion of the latest Undead Labs blog post talking about something called "Faded Americana."

"Faded Americana really resonates with me because there are many analogies between the style and a zombie apocalypse. In both cases, you see society hanging onto the ghosts of its past," Williams explains. The concept goes a long way towards explaining Undead Labs' decision to set the game primarily in a small town environment, and Williams has quite a few interesting anecdotes relating to influential games as well as the challenges inherent in separating the new game from the stack of zombie-themed entertainment products that have swarmed over the popular consciousness in recent years.

MassivelyUndead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art-directionclass3consoleconsolesdev-blogdev-diaryfaded-americanahorrorhorror-mmosmall-town-americaundead-labsxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadezombie-apocalypsezombiesMon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain covers technology and fun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Console MMO fans, rejoice. We have a new interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain on the studio's upcoming Xbox 360 titles. The two titles, code-named Class3 and Class4, are an Xbox Live Arcade title (which will allow the studio to test their technology and give players a taste of what's to come) and an open-world MMORPG, respectively.

Throughout the interview, Strain touches on a few important subjects, such as Class3 and how it is helping the team develop and prepare for Class4. He also mentions that the team's concern with Class4 is not with the fact that it's a server-hosted online world, but ensuring that said server-hosted online world is fun to play. Although it's a somewhat short interview, it's certainly worth the read for any zombie fan anticipating Undead Labs' upcoming titles.

MassivelyNew interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain covers technology and fun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class-4class3class4consolefast-zombies-are-better-than-slow-zombiesinterviewjeff-straintechnologyundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST